Oh Those Ear Tufts!

Oh Those Ear Tufts!

We headed out in a Jeep to find a predator on the plains today! We were looking for a feline, but not a lion, cheetah or leopard. So who were we looking for you ask? This cat is small, but mighty and they have some of the greatest ears around.

Caracal Fun Facts:

These medium sized cats can grow up to 42 inches long and weigh up to 44 lbs. The males are larger than the females.

They are the largest member of the small cats in Africa.

They are famous for their large ear tufts or tassels. It is thought that they use these to communicate with other caracals.

These agile carnivores eat small mammals and birds.

They are able to leap 10 feet into the air to catch birds in flight.

Caracals are mostly solitary and highly territorial.

They mark their territories with scents and physical marks like claw marks on trees.

They are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

We were so excited to spot this sleak predator. They remind us of the house cat that lives at HQs, except he is a bit plumper and lazier.